Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Pittsburgh
Cowboys Fall at Pittsburgh, 85-68
December 15, 2007 | Cowboy Basketball
The Panthers are 10-0 for the fifth season in a row under coach Jamie Dixon after finally finding a way to handle the Cowboys, who kept them out of the NCAA regional finals four seasons ago and also beat them 95-89 in double overtime last season when Pitt was No. 7.
Blair, a 265-pound freshman with strong inside moves and surprising quickness, repeatedly frustrated the guard-driven Cowboys early in the game with his ability to create second-chance points with his rebounding and putbacks.
Blair, who finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five blocked shots and two steals, had 10 points midway through the first half to lead a 15-4 run that gave Pitt a 38-26 lead.
Young didn't score until nearly 11 minutes were gone, but kept Pitt's first-half surge going with 13 points in a span of about eight minutes as the Panthers (10-0) built their lead to 49-31 at the half. Young ended with 15 points, three below his team-leading average, and Mike Cook also had 15 points.
Point guard Levance Fields had 17 points and six assists and made a key 3-pointer with about 11 minutes remaining after the Cowboys (5-4) had cut the 18-point halftime deficit to seven points. Pitt went on to build its lead to as many as 19 points.
James Anderson, a freshman trying for a fourth consecutive game of 20 or more points, was held to eight points on 2-of-8 shooting as the Cowboys' outside shooting failed them in their first loss in four games. Marcus Dove had 17 points and Terrel Harris had 16 for Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys have attempted 30 or more 3-pointers four times and made 28 shots from beyond the arc during their three-game winning streak, only to go 6-of-21. Anderson, shooting nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc previously this season, was 1-of-5.
Pitt, playing its only home game between Dec. 2 and Jan. 2, dealt Oklahoma State its 14th consecutive road loss dating to last season. The Panthers close out the month with two difficult games, against No. 6 Duke at Madison Square Garden on Thursday and at Dayton on Dec. 29.
The Panthers won their 27th consecutive non-conference game at home and their 76th in 77 games here, a run interrupted only by an upset loss to Bucknell nearly four years ago.
